Track element for train-control systems



April7, 1925,. 1,532,373

I 'C..S; BUSHNELL TRACK ELEMENT FOR TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS Fil d N v. 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1;

in l 8 u ENTO 5' &5W

' April 7, 1925.

1,532,373 c. s. BUSHNELL TRACK ELEMENT FOR TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS Filed Nov. 6, 1922 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGZL v r 'TTORNEY i atented Apr, i925 srATEs ()FFlCE- CHARLES S. BUSHNELL, RGOHESTER, NERIYORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL BAIliL- WAY SI IGNAL; COIMPANY, OF GATES, NEW YO B K, A COP-JEORATION OF NEW YORK.

TRACK ELEMENT FOR TRAIN-CGNTROL SYSTEMS.

Application filed November T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CirAnLns S. BUSH- nnnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Elements for Train- Control Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to'trackway devices for inductively transmitting control in fluences to moving trains, and particularly to means for supporting such devices.

in train control systems of the intermittent type,it has been found desirable to transmit control influences from the trackway to a moving vehicle through an intervening air gap, and without physical contact between the devices on the vehicle and along the trackway. One method of transmitting such influences is by magnetic communication between such devices, either directly by magnetic action, or by the induction of an electric current dueto the rate of change of magnetic flu communicated from one device to the other. In devices of this kind, it is important that the relation between the trackway and car-carried device, especially the air gap between such devices, be maintained the same, or nearly so, in order that proper control influences my be transmitted. If such trackway devices aresupported by the usual ties of the track, it is sometimes found that the rails cut or work their way into the ties, thereby bringing the ties and the track devices up with respect to the rails, while at other times the rails may be shimmed up by putting tieplates between the rails and ties, thereby lowering the track devices with respect to therails, and increasing the air-gap correspondingly. If the track device is mounted in this manner and on the outside of the rails, it is also possible, due to unequal cutting of the railsinto the ties, to bring the trackway device down with respect to the plane defined by the top of the rail.

lVith the above and other considerations in mind, the principal objects and purposes of. the present invention contemplate the provision of a strong and durable supporting structure for supporting trackway devices of this kind directly from the track rails, and in a manner that does not intere, 1922. Serial No. 599,299.

fere with the proper operation of the train or of the signaling system.

. Other objects will'be' in part pointed out and in part obvious from'the following detail description of several embodiments of this invention. I

In describingthe invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawin s, in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of a preferred form of the invention in connection with a short section of trackway; v

1 ig. E2 is a side elevation of the trackway devices shown in Fig. 1, having parts broken away for clearness;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, as viewed when looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Fig. d is a lan view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified orm of the invention and Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, as viewed in the direction of the arrows. v

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, Q and S which show the preferred method of supporting an inductive or magnetic influence transmitting'device directly from the rails of the trackway, the rails 1 and 2 are supported on ties 3 in the usual manner. It is assumed that these rails 1-2 form portions of the usual closed circuit traekway system of a railway block signal system.

Supported from these rails 1-2 are cross beams t which in the present instance comprise lnverted track rails, presumably comprising rails which have been Worn so badly of thetrackway a suitable distance to support an influence transmitting track element. 7 On these extending ends of the beams a is bolted a block of insulation 8 by bolts 9, this insulation being preferably of a weather and fireproof charactenwhich at the same time is tough and does not readily disintegrate under severe vibrations, such as 4 and the as'not to be useful as a running rail. These til fiber board, asbestos board, and the like. To the insulating blocks 8 is bolted by bolts 10 an inverted channel 11, preferably made of non-magnetic material, having its ends bent downwardto form a sloped ramp portion. These sloped portions also extend adjacent the ties 3 in a manner to prevent endwise movement and displacement of the channel member 11. Near the middle of this channel member 11 is provided an elongated opening to accommodate the track element proper. I

A hood or .shell 12, having sloping ends 13 and provided with depressed portions 1a, is bolted to the channel member 11 by bolts pressed portions 14. This hood 12 is constructed got suitable nonmagnetic material, such as manganese steelor the like, and is provided with two shallow square pockets or depressions to accommodate pole pieces. Between these pockets is a slot which is filled with a block of wood 12 or other in-- sulating material, so asto avoid eddy currents. These pockets have an opening in the bottom, and have the pole pieces 16 tastened by screws 18' to the flange 17 formed around said opening. I

To the pole pieces 16, which are-made of a high grade of magnetic material, is screw fastened ayoke 19 by screws 20 having their heads countersunk into these pole pieces. This yoke 19 may comprise a core of laminated magnetic material, or a U-shaped bar forming a permanent magnet-,depending on the particular system with which the track- Way device is to .be used, the legs of this yoke being provided with coils 21, only one of'which has beenshown. These coils may be used to I magnetize the yoke for influence transmitting-purposes when the yolre is constructed of unmagnetized magnetic material, may beusedfor opposing the flux due to a yoke comprisinga permanent magnet, or may be used by being short circuited attimes to prevent a sudden change of flux through this yoke, depending on the particular train control system with which it is to be used.

In Fig. 4 has been illustrated a modified form of the present invention in which the beams l 'do not extend entirely to the remote rail- 2, buta-re bolted to. a bar of iron 22 by bolts 23, this bar 22 being fastened to It should be of the preferred form of the invention shown provides asupporting structure for inductive influence transmitting devices which maintains a predetermined alignment and relation between the..track rails and..

7 tween this element and the inductivetrack 15, having their heads disposed in the deway device will be the same regardless of movement of the rails- With respectto their foundation. e

In the modified form of the invention as shown in Figs; 1} and 5,. substantially the same results are accomplished althoughso e slight iovement oi the influence transmit; ting dev cewithrespectto the track rails is possible, because the remoteends of the;

beam at are connected directly tothe ties,

and therefore it the ties move with respectfl to the rails a corresponding movement ,Will

be transmitted to the inductive, .trackwary device. It should, however, be, notedthat the bar-22 is fastened-to the .ties 3 a con--. sideiable'distance from the rail 1, so thatthe lever arm comprising that portion of the beam r is considerably longerthan the M lever arm COIIIPIISIDO the. beam 4 extending;

betweenrail 1 and the -.inductive trackway device, so that the relative movement be:

tween the ties 3 andthe rails 1 will have .very little eflectupon the movement, ofithis,

trackway device with. respect; to a plane formed by the, top ot-the rails,

Having thus shown and.describedseverah specific embodiments of the invention, I de sire to have it understoodnthatthe, specific structure shown and described is merely, illustrative, and does notrexhaust the. various -embodimentsthereof,;an dthat various addi-Q trons and modifications may be made with out ,departingfrom the scope of this inven-; tion.

lVhatI claim is V 1. A. device of thexcharacter described comprising, a pair of track rails, ties :for' supporting said track rails, means extending underneath said: track ra ls and fastened thereto, and an electr c-magnetic device in-' eluding a corset magnetic materialsups. ported by saidlastimentioned means.

2. A device of the charactcr described comprising, a pair or" track rails,- ties.;for.1

supporting said track rails, meansextending underneath said track rails and, fastened thereto butinsulated from one of them',- and an electro-magnetic device including .a core, or" magnetic material supported by said last mentioned means.

3. A device of the character described comprising, a pair of track rails, ties for supporting said track rails, means fastened to said rails having an extension extending from one side thereof, an electro-magnetic influence transmitting device supported on said extension, and means for insulating said last mentioned means from one of said rails.

. 4. A device of the character described comprising, a pair of track rails, ties for supporting said track rails, means fastened to said rails having an extension extending from one side thereof, and an eleotro-magnetic influence transmitting device supported on said extension, said electro-magnetic device comprising a yoke having a coil thereon.

5. A device of the character described comprising, a pair of trackrails, ties for supporting said track rails, means fastened to saidrails and extending to one side a considerable distance beyond the outside face of one of said rails, and an electro-magnetic influence transmitting device supported on said means, said electro-magnetic device comprising a support of non-magnetic ma terial, and a yo e carried by said support having coils surrounding said yoke.

6. A device of the character described comprising, an electro-magnetic influence transmitting device adapted to transmit control influences to a movingrailway vehicle including a UV-shaped core having a coil thereon, a housing of non-magnetic material for said device, and means for supporting said housing directly by both rails of a railway track.

7. Means for transmitting control influences from the trackway to a moving vehicle comprising, a non-magnetic shell having depressed portions to form pockets, pole pieces in said pockets, a core supported by said pole pieces having coils thereon, and means for supporting said shell from two track rails in a manner to insulate said rails from each other and to insulate said shell from both of said rails.

In, testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

CHARLES S. BUSHNELL. 

